Vertical Caving and SRT Gear
Single Rope Technique (SRT) is the caving-specific system for descending and ascending a single fixed rope. The kit is similar to mountaineering but with critical differences — caving abuses rope much harder, requires lighter ascenders, and prizes redundancy.
Harness
A caving harness has a low attachment point (the maillon) for hanging directly under the rope, and is more compact than a climbing harness. The waist belt is broader; leg loops are narrower.
Croll (chest ascender)
The croll attaches to the harness maillon and to a chest strap. It grabs the rope and slides upward freely but locks under load. In SRT ascending, you sit in the croll while pushing up with the foot ascender.
Jumar / foot ascender
The hand or foot ascender works the same way as the croll but attached to a footloop. Push down with the foot, lift the croll, push down again — the technique is rhythmic and surprisingly efficient once trained.
Descender (Stop or Simple)
The Petzl Stop has an auto-stopping mechanism (releases when gripped); the Simple is similar but without the auto-stop. Both are caving-specific designs. The descender allows fast, controlled descent and is the most common point of injury when mishandled — always test on a short pitch first.
Cowstails
Two short slings from harness to a karabiner each. Used for clipping into anchors, lifelines and rope bypasses. The shorter is for close work; the longer for transitioning across rebelays.
Rope
Caving rope is typically static 9-10 mm with a polyester sheath. Dynamic rope is rarely used because the small stretches matter and dynamic absorption is wasted weight.
Helmet and lights
Helmet is mandatory; two lights (primary and backup) standard. Modern LED headtorches deliver 4-8 hours per battery; carry spares.
Training
SRT can be learned only on real rope under instruction. UK BCRA, French FFS, and US NSS vertical training programs all offer courses; none replaces club practice. Most clubs welcome trainees.
Explore on the map
See vertical caves on the interactive map.